Indigenous Prince George: Lheidli T’enneh Territory, Nations and Community
An introduction to Prince George: its history, the Nations whose lands it sits on, and Indigenous community life today, with sources.
About Prince George
Prince George grew at the confluence of the Fraser and Nechako rivers, a site where the Lheidli T’enneh had an ancestral village for centuries. Their name joins Lheidli, where the two rivers flow together, with T’enneh, the people, and their traditional lands reach from the city toward the Rocky Mountains. Fort George Park was renamed Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park in 2015 and sits on a former village site. That same year the city hosted the Canada Winter Games, and the Lheidli T’enneh became the first Official Host First Nation of a Canada Games. The University of Northern British Columbia, founded in 1990, and the College of New Caledonia serve students across the north. Forestry built the local economy, though health care, education and other services now lead. The Exploration Place, Two Rivers Gallery and the Prince George Native Friendship Centre are important community institutions.
Prince George history
The Lheidli T'enneh are a sub-group of the Dakelh, or Carrier Dene. Dakelh territory covers about 76,000 square kilometres of British Columbia's Interior Plateau, reaching from the Rocky Mountains toward the Pacific Coast. Their language belongs to the Dene family and has three main dialect groups. The traditional Dakelh economy centred on fishing, especially salmon and lake fish. People also hunted, gathered berries and traded hides and dried goods with neighbours along routes called the Grease Trails. Alexander Mackenzie and North West Company traders first entered Dakelh territory in 1793. The company pushed its fur trade into the region it called New Caledonia from 1805. Fort St. James opened on Stuart Lake in 1806. A year later, Simon Fraser built the Fort George trading post, naming it for King George III. The city was incorporated in 1915, after a referendum held during its first civic election. Its new name honoured a former Duke of Kent. In British Columbia, most First Nations never signed historic treaties with the Crown. The Canadian Encyclopedia notes that the Dakelh are among the First Nations who never signed one.
Treaty and territory
Prince George is on the unceded traditional territory of the Lheidli T’enneh.
Nearby: Lheidli T’enneh First Nation · Saik’uz First Nation · Vanderhoof · Quesnel · Mackenzie
Indigenous Prince George today
Lheidli T'enneh First Nation serves more than 900 members from its home in Prince George. Its business arm, Tano T'enneh Enterprises, runs House of Ancestors, a fuel business, LTN Contracting and the Nilhts'i Ecoener Wind Project. The Nation also works on salmon recovery, including the Upper Fraser River Conservation Hatchery. In 2026 it held National Day for Truth and Reconciliation celebrations on September 29 and 30. The Prince George Native Friendship Centre on Third Avenue offers child care, employment training, youth services and supportive housing. It also runs Elder services, emergency shelter and the Moose Hide Campaign. Its Smokehouse Restaurant serves weekday lunches. At UNBC, the First Nations Centre supports Indigenous students with awards and the SAGE graduate program. The Office of Indigenous Initiatives guides the university's wider commitments. Students gather at Tseba, and degree options include First Nations Studies and First Nations Planning. Regionally, the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council represents seven First Nations. At the 2021 census, 4,730 people reported Dakelh ancestry. In 2016, 990 people reported Dakelh as their mother tongue.
Life in Prince George
Prince George had 76,708 residents at the 2021 census. Forestry built the city, but health care, retail, hospitality, manufacturing and construction now share the load. It is northern BC's transportation crossroads. Railway yards and locomotive repair shops sit beside a major highway junction, and national carriers serve the airport. The Exploration Place, in Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park, is northern BC's largest museum and science centre. It welcomes more than 100,000 visitors a year. Galleries include Hodul'eh-a: A Place of Learning, focused on Indigenous content, and the Ted Williams History Centre. Visitors can also ride the Fort George Railway, billed as Canada's shortest passenger railway. The city also supports a symphony orchestra, a convention centre and a performing arts theatre. The Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League play in the city's multipurpose arena.
Prince George seasons and weather
Prince George has cold winters with roughly two metres of snow in a typical year and mild summers, so a warm hat and a heavier hoodie are worth keeping close.
More on the region: Indigenous British Columbia · all of Canada.
Keep learning in the XUSI Journal
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- How to Write a Land Acknowledgement That Means Something
- Orange Shirt Day & the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- National Indigenous Peoples Day and History Month: A Guide
- All Journal articles
Prince George questions
When does an order to Prince George leave Saskatoon?
Orders leave within 1–3 business days. Shipping is calculated at checkout, and orders of $90 or more ship free within Canada.
What is the largest print size for a Prince George custom order?
The maximum screen is 23x31 inches, with up to 4 colours per design. There is a 10-garment minimum, and every order is quoted before printing.
Could a Prince George group order shirts with Dakelh words for an event?
Yes. Custom screen printing starts at 10 garments, with up to 4 colours per design, and every order is quoted before printing. Share the Dakelh wording approved by your community, and our design help will lay it out. Orders are printed in Saskatoon and shipped to Prince George.
XUSI designs often use Cree words. Is that a fit in Dakelh territory?
Many of our designs carry a Cree word and its story, shared on our meanings page, because we are based in Treaty 6 territory. Prince George sits on Lheidli T'enneh land. For designs in Dakelh, a custom order with wording from your community is the respectful choice.
Last reviewed . Facts on this page come from the sources listed below.
Indigenous clothing from XUSI
Prince George residents looking for Indigenous-owned streetwear can order from XUSI, which ships hoodies, hats and tees from its home in Saskatoon to doorsteps in northern British Columbia.
Prince George winters are long, and the rink is where many of them are spent. We would reach for a heavy hoodie for a Cougars game or a cold walk along the rivers in November. In summer, a heavyweight 100% cotton tee suits a day at Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park and the Exploration Place. The Black Oni long sleeve is a smart layer for fall evenings when the valley cools fast. Students heading across the UNBC campus might pick the Revitalize Culture crewneck, which carries a Cree word and story. An A-frame snapback handles the sun at a summer ball field or festival.
